University of St Andrews

Health Surveillance- Code of Practice

1. Introduction

Health surveillance is a monitoring tool, which checks out the effectiveness of health and safety control measures by detecting the early signs of work related ill health amongst staff and students who are exposed to certain types of risks. Where health surveillance has been identified as being required then staff and students must comply with the following Code of Practice.

2. What is Health Surveillance?

Health surveillance is about systematically identifying the early signs of work-related health in employees exposed to certain health by implementing certain procedures. These procedures include:

  • Providing guidance sheets from the Occupational Health Adviser detailing symptoms which workers should look out for. If these symptoms are identified then the worker should then report them to the Occupational Health Adviser;
  • self-examination after appropriate training from the Occupational Health Adviser, such as looking for skin damage on hands from using certain chemicals;
  • specific health measurements, for example lung function tests, hearing tests;
  • more detailed medical examinations by the Occupational Health Physician / Occupational Health Adviser.

3. When is Health Surveillance Required

Health surveillance is required when a risk assessment identifies a potential risk or risks of a work activity which pose a significant threat to the health of workers. Examples of such work include:

  • work with respiratory sensitizers
  • work with biological agents which may cause human disease;
  • use of specific chemicals;
  • fumes, dusts, and other substances hazardous to health;
  • work causing excessive noise and/or vibrations to workers;
  • work with asbestos or lead;
  • work with large doses of ionising radiations in ‘Controlled Areas’;
  • arranging diving operations medical examinations.

If there is any doubt about whether health surveillance is required, then the assessor should contact the Occupational Health Adviser

4. Actions

Actions to be taken by:

[a] Head of School/Unit

Heads of Schools/Units are responsible for:

  • ensuring that staff undertake appropriate risk assessments and implement appropriate control measures for all work which poses a significant risk to the health of workers;
  • ensuring that appropriate health surveillance is undertaken where necessary;
  • ensuring appropriate resources are made available for undertaking health surveillance;
  • ensuring that relevant staff attend appropriate health surveillance session.

[b] Supervisor/Principal Investigator

All work with a significant risk to employees must be risk assessed and this assessment should include details of all the control measures required to minimise the risks of the work.

The supervisor of the work should:

  • identify where health surveillance is required by undertaking an appropriate risk assessment of the work;
  • identify all workers who may require health surveillance;
  • ensure that workers receive appropriate health surveillance from the Occupational Health Adviser;
  • ensure that workers comply with any guidance issued by the Occupational Health Adviser;
  • discuss any health surveillance requirements with the Occupational Health Adviser;

[c] Individual

Individuals identified by a risk assessment to require health surveillance should:

  • attend any health surveillance sessions required by a specific risk assessment;
  • follow any health surveillance instructions issued by their Supervisor and/or the Occupational Health Adviser;
  • not put their health or the health of others at risk by any of their actions or omissions.

[d] Occupational Health Adviser

The University’s Occupational Health Adviser will;

  • issue guidance documents and provide advice on appropriate health surveillance for particular risks;
  • will undertake or will arrange for appropriate health surveillance to be provided;
  • where health surveillance identifies problems with an employees health due to work, the Occupational Health Adviser will advise the Supervisor and Head of School / Unit of this and recommend remedial actions;
  • will provide recommendations to Supervisors/Principal Investigators with regard to modifications to risk assessments to reduce the risk of work activities causing ill health;
  • provide appropriate training

5. Records of health surveillance.

All records of health surveillance performed at the occupational health unit are strictly confidential, any specific health detail of an individuals medical record can only be made available to the employer with the written informed consent of the employee to whom the record relates. Records that relate to health surveillance will be kept for at least the minimum time required by relevant and current legislation.

6. Monitoring and Review

This Code of Practice and guidance will be regularly monitored and reviewed by the Director of Environmental Health and Safety Services to

  • Ensure it continues to comply with legislation;
  • Ensure that the guidance is reasonably practicable to implement to all those concerned with health surveillance within the university.

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Environmental, Health and Safety Services - June 2007